Star Wars            

By Dave McCoy

Again? Yes. Even though no other movie has been released as many times on video as Star Wars (except for its sequels, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi), George Lucas and the folks at 20th Century Fox have actually released a slightly different film this time. This video followed the mega-successful 20th-anniversary theatrical rerelease, in which Lucas personally remastered the image and sound quality of his baby. Other revisions are more obvious, if hardly radical. Lucas enhanced several special effects with updated computer technology--most noticeable are the explosions and removal of matte lines during the Death Star battle finale. And the creatures that populate Mos Eisley's spaceport--though meticulous--are aesthetically superior improvements. The inclusion of extra scenes (originally outtakes), however, is not an improvement. Both the meeting between Jabba the Hutt and Han Solo, and Luke talking with his childhood pal Biggs, do nothing to enhance character development or theme, and serve only as distractions that preoccupy the waiting viewer. And, really couldn't Lucas find something better to do with his time than mess around with a national treasure? As for the video, this boasts both visual and sound enhancements. But since Star Wars has been available with these tweaks numerous times before, the decision whether to purchase this latest new version depends on how badly you want to see Lucas's cosmetic surgery.

See Also: Hardware Wars.

Academy Awards

Star Wars received Academy Awards for Art Direction/Set Decoration (Jonathan Barry - Art Direction, Norman Ryenold - Art Direction, Leslie Dilley - Art Direction, Roger Christian - Set Decoration), Costume Design (John Mollo), Film Editing (Marcia Lucas, Paul Hirsch, Richard Chew), Music Scoring Awards (Best Original Score; John Williams), Sound (Don MacDougall, Ray West, Bob Minkler, Derek Ball), Special Visual Effects (John Stears, John Dykstra, Richard Edlund, Grant McCune, Robert Blalack) and Special Achievement Awards (Ben Burtt). Star Wars also received Academy Awards nominations for Best Picture (Gary Kurtz - Producer), Supporting Actor (Sir Alec Guinness), Directing (George Lucas), and Writing (Best Screenplay written directly for the screen; George Lucas).

Share Your Memories!

Is Star Wars one of your favorite movies? What do you remember about it? Share your stories (or your reviews) with the world! (We print the best stories right here!)

		Your Memories Shared!

"Star Wars came out in the Summer of 1977. I was part of a foursome of friends who double dated all of that summer. The first time I saw the movie it was at Perimeter Mall in Atlanta. It was okay, I thought. But one of our friends was hooked. He must have seen it a dozen times. He dragged us back again to see it but my girlfriend and I got up and went to the theatre next door to see THE DEEP. Oddly, I began to enjoy Star Wars much, much later." --Groth

" "Star Wars" was the first movie I ever went to see by myself. I was 9 yrs. old, and my mom had had to take me to work with her that day. I got bored and asked if I could have some money to go see a movie (it cost $1.50 back then for a matinee). I chose "Star Wars", because all my friends were raving about it. Seeing it opened up whole worlds of imagination for me. I'd always had a good imagination, but seeing that movie showed me how to use it. I saw it three more times that summer, and devoured everything I could lay my hands on that said "Star Wars" on it. I owned every set of the bubblegum cards, read the movie's novelization and the early novels, and tried writing my own stories based on Luke Skywalker's adventures. I still enjoy watching it (and all its sequels and prequels) to this day. I write short stories and sci-fi stuff as a hobby, and I owe my ability to envision those characters and other worlds to my lack of entertainment at my mom's office one June day in 1977. my thanks go out to the entire cast and crew. Way to go George! Also, as a way to end this, let me remember Sir Alec Guiness...he may not have appreciated completely his role as Obi-Wan Kenobi, but we appreciated him, in all his roles, stage and screen." --Rob D.

"I saw Star Wars the week that C-3PO was on the cover of People magazine (July 17th issue, I believe) with a friend. I was so impressed and awe-struck, that I continued to see it all summer. I always went alone and each time the movie was finished I got up and hid in the restroom until the I could hear the trailers start, then go back in the theatre (there were sound speakers in the restrooms at the time. I spent a whole Saturday in the theatre. I know the ushers were aware what I was doing, but since I was alone and wasn't making trouble, they didn't bother me. (God Bless the Terrace Theatre!) Like so many other, Star Wars changed me. I now live in Southern California and have tried to persue an acting career, with minor luck. I always hoped to be in a Star Wars movie. . maybe someday. . ." --Jimbo-Wan